Michigan

Swag: Mark Ingram is the next big thing from Flint

We know nothing about Swag. Thankfully, It's Just Sports Swag Consultant Eric Woodyard shows up to tell us who has it.

I can remember it like it was yesterday.

It was a cold October night and I was home in Flint, Mich. for the weekend of my 19th birthday.

After the grind of my sophomore year of college, I needed the break badly to spend some time with my family.
While being home, the buzz about this transfer kid at my former high school, Flint Southwestern Academy, was the Carter III big.

Comparisons to past greats flooded town and for the first time in my life, I saw fans just as excited about watching high school athletes throw the pigskin as they were watching them on the hardwood. This is rare in Flint … very rare.

Not easily convinced, I purchased a ticket and flocked into Atwood Stadium just like everyone else with my father to watch Flint Southwestern take on Flint Northern. In less than five minutes, I could quickly see why.
Wearing the no. 7, the running back was not hard to spot because he kept Flint Northern looking silly while he danced in the end zone like Usher in his prime.

Dazzling the crowd with his great footwork, breathtaking speed and amazing strength he stood out like a sore thumb.
This was the first time that I saw Mark Ingram Jr. play.
He was a prodigy and destined for greatness.
I don’t know approximately how many yards he rushed for or how many touchdowns he scored but let’s just say that it was a hell of a lot of both.

Al.comHeisman Watch: Flint's Mark Ingram.This was his senior year of high school, the year in which he went on to run for 1,700 yards and score 24 touchdowns. He also set city records for rushing yards (377) and touchdowns (7) in a game.
These performances only set us up for what he would go on to accomplish in college.

This past weekend he did it again!
Only this time, I was home for my 21st birthday. I again needed a break badly to spend some time with my family.
On October 18, we were all in Mona’s nightclub on North Saginaw Street where we watched him absolutely annihilate the defense of South Carolina on ESPN. The same night that Flint native, Andre Dirrell fought Carl Froch for the Super Middleweight crown and was defeated from a questionable split decision, Ingram stole the show.

Rushing for 246 yards, including a game-winning touchdown, Ingram has officially moved past Florida’s Tim Tebow as the new leader in the latest edition of the HeismanPundit.com Heisman Poll released on Tuesday (Oct. 20).

Not bad huh?
Wearing the no. 22, the running back is now nationally rather easy to spot as he continues to keep defenders looking silly.
At 5-10, 215 pounds and only in his sophomore season at the University of Alabama, Ingram truly has the chance to be what everyone in Flint thought he could (and would) be after that dominating prep senior season.
The next Adrian Peterson. The next LaDainian Tomlinson.
He is the next big thing.

Mark Ingram has those traits to be signature sneaker contract good! Future NFL-sponsored endorsements with Campbell’s Chunky Soup are highly possible with performances like his last one.